PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
By John P. Martin and Aubrey Whelan
Inquirer Staff Writers
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia said Monday that it had suspended a former Northeast Philadelphia pastor over a claim that he sexually abused a minor, four months after church officials publicly cleared him of another misconduct accusation.
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput in May declared the Rev. Michael Chapman suitable to return to active ministry. The 56-year-old cleric was preparing to resume working as a priest when the archdiocese received a new accusation that Chapman had sexually abused a minor approximately 30 years ago, the archdiocese said Monday.
Church officials passed the accusation to law enforcement and halted Chapman’s reinstatement, according to Donna Farrell, a spokeswoman for the archbishop.
“Father Chapman had never actually returned to active public ministry, did not have access to children, and was not residing in a parish at any time since the May 4 announcement,” Farrell said.
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